Light-sensitive control means



Filed June26, 1936 -5 Shets-Sheei 1 S QE b INVENTOR FORREST J. COUCH v Nov. 7, 193 9.

' F. J. cducu LIGHT-SENSITIVE CONTROL MEANS Filed.JuI 1 e 26, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FORREST J. COUCH- BMW m, #W/

ATTORN EYS -Nov. 7, 1939.

F.- J. COUCH 2.179.009

LIGHT- SENS ITIVE CONTROL MEANs Filed Julie 26, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR BY FORREST J. COUCH Patented Nov. 7, .1939

UNITED STATE LIGHT-S NSITIVE CONTROL MEANS Forrest J'. Co'uch, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Norwood, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 26, 1936, Serial No. 87,346 4 Claims. (01. 271-83) This invention relates to improvements in light-sensitive control means which is here embodied in a, stacking machine for fabric articles.

-' operator to iron a large number of handkerchiefs In certain laundering processes it is desirable to stack ironed fabric articles in unfolded condition. This is particularly true with respect to handkerchiefs and similar light fabric articles of small size. The machine will be referred to hereinafter as dealing with handkerchiefs for the purpose of illustration but it will be understood thatI do not limit myself to any one particular article.

' Machines heretofore used for the handling of handkerchiefs after ironing have had several disadvantages which it is the purpose of my present invention to overcome. One of the disadvantages has been that no means was provided to handle the handkerchiefs as rapidly as an operator could feed them through a modern ironing machine so that the production of the ironing machine was limited to thespeed of the operators handling the ironed articles at the deliveryend of the machine. One type of handkerchief receiving device provides an individual receptacle for each customers bundle of, handkerchiefs but this device has a tendency tomussthe ironed articles somewhat and it is limited in capacity because the receiving'machine may be filled with ironed handkerchiefs only as rapidly as an oper-' ator can empty the filled compartments. Other types. of receiving device for handkerchiefs after ironing comprise delivery on tapes or conveyors to folding and stacking operators and here again no arrangement has been found whereby these operators can handle the handkerchiefs at the same speed as they may be ironed. .A featureof my present invention is an arrangement whereby a; very large number, of the natureof several hundred, of thin fabric articles, 'such as handkerchiefs, may beneatly stacked without mussing or wrinkling, without interruption in the process of feeding the articles through a an ironing machine; The machine then need be shut down only-for a brief period for the removal of the large stack of finished articles from the stacking devicefwhereuponthe, machine may resume operation. \This device permits a single at the full capacity of a modernironing machine and greatly reduces the labor and machine hours necessary to finish such articles. Furthermore by such an arrangement operators. may be most the fabric articles in a predetermined position iron a large number of articles'and thereafter shut down the ironing machine and perform the folding and bundling operations on the finished 'articles.

Another feature of my present invention is the provision of novel structure for receiving fabric articles direct from an ironing machine and conveying them to a stacking device. Such features include a novel arrangement of conveying means for conservation of floor space andfor 10 the provision of a steaming off period so that the fabric articles are thoroughly dry when stacked.

Another feature of my improved stacking machine is an arrangement of oscillating stacking 15 arms adapted to receive an ironed fabric article and convey it in unwrinkled condition to the top of a stack of such articles.

In combination with the stacking arms described in the preceding paragraph my invention provides a novel arrangement of a receiving table for sucharticles which is operatedin coordination with the stacking arms so as to maintain a constant level of the pile of stacked articles. v 25 Another feature of my invention is the novel arrangement of the conveying device which receives the fabric articles in ironed condition and carries them to position overstacklng arms in ininimum.movement. I

Another novel feature of my device is the ar;

rangement of control mechanism for operating the stacking arms which take the ironed articles from the conveyor. to place them in a pile. These novel features include the initiation of the stacking arm movement by the trailing edge of a. thin fabric article without physical contact with any tripping device, together with means for holding until the movement when they are received by 40 the stacking arm for conveyance to the stacking table. one edge thereof perfectly alined with other articles in the pile;

Other novel features of my'invention will be apparentifrom the accompanying drawings and specification and the novel features thereof will be pointed out in the claims.-

In the drawings: 5o Fig; l is a side elevation of the stacking machine and an ironing machine coupled together for operation. One ofq'the side panels of the stacking machine has-been removed to expose the operating parts.

such-a way that the stacking arms require the 30 i This results in stacking the articles with Fig.2 is a rear elevation of the stacking machine, parts of the rear panel and cover member being broken away to expose the operating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of the release clutch mechanism for the stacking table.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmental detail views partly in section showing a portion of the stacking arm operating mechanism in various positions.

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmental detail views of the clutch mechanism assembly for the stacking arm operating mechanism in two different operating positions.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of the mechanism of Figs. '7 and 8, certain parts being shown in elevation and other parts in section along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a view taken substantially along the line |0- l0 of Fig. 1 showing in somewhat diagrammatic form operating switches and actuating mechanism therefor.

. Fig. 11 is a detail plan view of mechanism for taking up slack in the ironing machine delivery ribbons.

Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram of the control and operating circuits.

Fig. 13 is a fragmental view along the line |3|3 of Fig. 4.

The stacking machine is provided with a suitable framework which comprises side frames I and la which are tied together by suitable cross members 2 and housed by side panels 3 and 3a,-

the latter being hinged or otherwise removabiy secured to theframe to provide access to the interior of the'machine. Suitable longitudinal supporting angles 4 and 5 are provided on each side of the machine for supporting parts of the operating mechanism.

Conveying mechanism and chest and the ironed articles are then delivered by the conveyor tapes I over the rear lip 8 of the ironing machine chest. In combining this ironing machine with my improved stacking machine I have carried the delivery tapes 1 around a roll 9 which is supported in a suitable bracket ill on the stacking machine frame. Each of the delivery tapes I is'provided with an automatic tightening device II for taking up the slack therein. These devices are clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 11. The conveyor means in the stacking machine for receiving the ironed articles from the ironing machine comprises a plurality of endless spaced ribbons i2 which pass about the rolls l3, l4, IS, a plurality of pulleys l6, and rolls l1 and I8. These rolls and pulleys are rotatably supported upon suitable brackets rigid with the Another set of conveyor ribbons 23 are protion transversely of the machine.

are later to receive and pile the articles.

' vided for carrying the articles along the vertical run 24 of the ribbons l2. The ribbons 23 lie opposite the ribbons l2 and in similar spaced rela- The ribbons 23 pass about the rolls i4 and 25. The roll 25 is rotatably mounted in brackets 20 and is adjustable so as to control the tension of the ribbons 23.

For driving the ribbons l2 and 23, motor 26 drives a speed reduction unit ending in sprocket 21 and a chain 28 passes over sprockets 21, 29, 30, 3| and 32. Sprocket 29 is adjustably mounted in brackets l0 so as to take up the slack in chain 28. sprocket 3| is rotatable with shaft 2|. Sprockets 30 and 3| are of the same diameter, and roll l4 and. pulley l6 are the same diameter so that the tapes l2 and 23 move at the same speed. Sprocket 32 is rotatable onshaft 33 which is rotatably a period for steaming off" of the ironed articles.

in case any moisture is still left in them so that they do not wrinkle whenstacked. Furthermore Sprocket 30 is rotatable with roll i4 and by carrying the articles up the vertical run 24 and then moving them down the run 25' they are presented at a steep angle, greater than 45 ,to the horizontal, in front of the stacking arms which This provides a shorter movement of the stacking arms than would otherwise be necessary, as will be later pointed out.

Stacking arm mechanism A plurality of stacking arms or fly arms 35 .are rigidly connected with shaft 36 which is retatably mounted in suitable bearings 31. Rigid with shaft 36 is a crank arm 38 to which is.pivotally connected a link 39 which in turn is pivotally connected with a crank arm 40, which in turn 'is rigidly mounted upon the left end of shaft 33 as viewed in Fig. 2. The throw of crank 40 is less than the throw of crank 38 so that one revolution of shaft 33 and crank 40 results in oscillation of crank 38 from the position of Fig. 4 to the position of Fig. 6 and back again to the position of Fig. 4. This results in a movement of the stacking "arms 35 from their normal position of rest just below the ribbons l2 as shown in full lines in Fig. 4 to a substantially horizontal position indicated at A in dash-dot lines therein which places an article upon the stacking table 4| and the arms then return to the full line position of Fig. 4.

A snubbing device is provided for thecounterclockwise movement of arms 35 as viewed in Fig. 4. This comprises an arm 42 which is rotatably mounted on shaft 36 and which carries an armate lug 43 facing toward crank 33. The crank carries'an arcuate lug'44 which is adapted to engage lug 43. upon oscillation of crank 36 to the intermediate dot-dash position shown in Fig. 5. A spring connected between-the frame and arm 42 normally biases thearm in its vertical position of Fig. 5. Upon engagement of lug 44 with lug 43 as crank 33 rotates in a counter- 42 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction and spring 45 is extended as shown in Fig. 6. This snubs the action of arms 35 as they approach the position A of Fig. 4. Upon the-return of arms 35 to the full line position of Fig. 4 they strike a bumper 46 suitably mounted in the frame.

i clockwise direction as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, arm

The stacking arms are oscillated intermittently by the production 'of a single revolution of shaft 33 at appropriate times as will be later disclosed. The rotation of shaft 33 is provided by means of a one-revolution clutch device best shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. Pinned to shaft His 8. disk- 41'which'carries a dog member 48 which ispivotally mounted on pin 49 carried by the disk. The dog member is normally biased in aclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 7 and 8 by a suitable spring 50. This movement is limited 8, disks 53 and 41 will rotate in unison and shaft 33willturn the crank arm 40. The dog 48 is I normally held in the inoperative position of Fig.

7 with the arm 48a out of engagement with the rollers 52 by means of a bellcrank member 56. This member has a downwardly extending arm 56a adapted to engage the arm 48b of dog member 48 as shown in Fig. 7. An arm 58b is pivotally connected by link 51 with the plunger 58 of a solenoid 59 suitably mounted on the frame. The arrangement of the parts is such that the bellcrank 56 is normally biased in a counterclockwise direction so that when solenoid 59 is deenergized the arm 56a will normally move intoposition to engage arm 48?) of the dog member and hold the clutch disengaged. Upon energization of the solenoid 59 the parts move to the position of Fig. 8, thus releasing dog member 48 to itsbiasing means and engaging the clutch. The energization of the solenoid 59 is only momentary as will be later described so that arm 58a shortly after movement to the position of Fig. 8 retums to the position of Fig. 7 and engages the dog member 48 upon the completion of one revolution of the clutch. An arm 560 on bellcrank 56 engages stops 50 on the frame to limit its movement. g

A brake shoe 8| engages disk 4'! to provide a constant drag thereon so that the disk 41 stopsv promptly upon disengagement of the one revolution clutch. The brake shoe is carried on an arm 82 which is pivotallymounted on the frame at ,83 and biased against thedisk "by a spring 64.

Stacking table The stacking table 4| is mounted on a pair of vertical rods 65which pass through suitable bearings Iii-and 81 on the frame so that the table 4| may be lowered and raised as desired. The table is biased in its uppermost position by springs 88 which are connected between rods 4 la and a suit-,

able portion of the frame of the machine. Suitable driving mechanism is provided between the stacking arm drive and the rods 65 so as to lower uccted by a link 10 with a link "H which inturn down.

is rotatably mounted on shaft 12 and carries a dog I la which engages teeth on the ratchet wheel 1 13 which in turn is rigidly mounted on shaft 12.

A detent 4,holds the ratchet wheel I3 against reverse movement. This mechanism is at the left end of shaft 12 as seen in Fig. 2. Upon the right end of shaft I2 and rigid therewith is a pinion I5 which meshes with a gear 16 which in turn is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 11. Gear 16 carv ries upon its right-hand face as viewed in Figs. 2

and 3, clutch teeth 16a which are adapted to engage coacting clutch portions on a clutch mem-' 'ber 18 mounted on shaft 11 by a key whereby the parts 11 and I8 rotate together but the clutch member is movable axially in shaft -.'|'I. A clutch fork I9 is pivotally mounted at 88 in' a bracket on the frame and engages clutchmemher I8 for actuation thereof. The-fork is connected by link 8| and crank 82 with an operatingpedal 83 at the-front of the machine. A spring 84 biases thepedal in its uppermost position which corresponds to engagement of the clutch members I8 and 16a. Pinned to shaft H are pinions 85 which engage racks 65a on rod 65. The

It isdesirable to enclose the stacking arms during the operation of the machine and to this end a .cover member 81 is provided'ha'ving a front panel 87a. and side arm members 81b which are pivotally connected at 88 with cars 89 on bearing brackets 31. Stopmember 98 on a side arm 81b of the cover member engages stop member 9| 86 which are compressed between suitable collars'on rods 65 and portions of the frame.

on the frame when the cover is closed and stop member 92 on the cover member engages stop member 9| when the cover is in open position.

Rigid with the cover member side arms .are arms '93 which support counterweights 9.4 to balance The arrange-' the weight of the cover member.

ment of the c'ounterweights is such that whether ,the cover member be open or closed the'counterweights tend to maintain it in that position.

As best seen in Fig. 10 a bracket 95 on the cover member portion 81b depressesa rod 96 when the cover is in closed position so as to hold a control button, 91 suitably positioned 'on the frame in contact-making position. This control feature insures that the machine can only be operated with the cover in its closed or safe position.

Also shown in Fig. 10are adjustable contacts 88 and 99 rigidly'carried by table 4| and adapted to engage control buttons liifl and |8| suitably mounted on the frame. 1 The contact 98 engages button I80 toprovide a warning signal to the operator as thetable approaches its lowermost po'- sition so that she is prepared to shut the machine Contact engages button |l|| when the table 4| reaches its lowest point and shuts the machine down in spite of the operator; 4

Control tad operation H The stacking machine as. already described is driven bya motor 26 and the ironing machine 6 is driven by motor I02. The motor I02 is a multiple speed motor with a speed control range providing travel of articles through the ironer varying from fifteen feet to twenty-four feet per minute. The motor 28 is single speed and is geared to the ribbon drives to produce a ribbon speed of forty-eight feet per minute, which is double that of the highest speed of the ironer. The purpose of this is to insure a sufiicient gap between the articles in the stacking machine to permit movement of the stacking arms to the stacking position and return before the next article comes into position for handling. Therefore the articles may belied into the ironing v, machine'in a continuous stream one immediately after the other with their edges almost touching and the necessary gap to permit stacking is produced by the more rapid speed of the stacking machine conveyor.

The control for initiating the operation of the stacking arms comprises a pair of light-sensitive cells I03 and I04 suitably mounted on the frame of the machine above the conveyor ribbons I2 and spaced apart in the direction of travel of the conveyors. The cellshere shown are photronic,

- that is to say, when exposed to light of suitable passifrom the'source I05 through slot I0Ia, be-..

intensity an electromotive forceis generated which sets up a current in an external circuit suificient to operate commercial relays without any amplifying tubes, batteries or auxiliary apparatus. A suitable light source, such as the lamp I05, is adjustably mounted on a bracket I05 beneath the conveyor ribbons I2. A light guard I0] is provided with longitudinal slots I0Ia and I012). The arrangement of the light-sensitive or photronic cells, the light source and the guard IN is such that when no articles are passing along the conveyor, uninterrupted light beams tween the ribbons I2 to cell I03, and through slot I0Ib through the ribbons I2 to cell I04. Re-

'type therefor, the stacker motor 25, a transformer I I2 providing an electrical supply for the stacker control mechanism, a low-voltage transformer II3, a standard commercial current rectifier I H,

the solenoid 59 previously described, and the control buttons 91,. I00 and IM diagrammatically shown. II5 isa signal lamp placed where the operator of the ironing machine may see it. The control circuits comprise power supply lines L1, La and Le connected by switch II6 to the motor circuits 25 and I02. A disconnect switch I II permits operation of the motor I02 separately forrepair and maintenance operations on the ironing machine. Switch 1 is normally closed; A coil IIGa serves to hold switch H6 in operated position when the coil is energized. v g

In the operation of the machine, assuming that table H is in its uppermost "position and cover member 81 is closed, the operator niovejs handle II I a to the position shown in Fig. 12 wherein the conductor-ill?) bridges-the contacts IIIc and 'I I Id. The conductors I I Ie are then in the first position inserting all resistance in the rotor cir-' cult and producing a maximum starting torque left, making contact at I080.

for themotor I02. Connecting Hi0 and Id establishes a circuit from L1, wire II8, coil IIGa, wire 9, normally open button 91 held closed by cover 81, normally closed button IOI, wire I20 and vwiie I2| to La. Energization of coil II'Iia closes switch I22 and switch IIG thus starting motor I02. As the operator moves controller handle IIIa clockwise, conductor I IIb bridges contacts Ia and III which through wire I23 and switch I22 keeps coil II6a energized. Stop members I24 limit the movement of conductor IIIb but continued clockwise movement of controller handle IIIa rotatesthe conductors IIIe cutting out resistance in the rotor circuit and controlling the'speed of the motor I02 as desired.

This is a standard type of controller for ironing machines and assures starting with full'torque because each time the machine is shut down the controller handle must be moved back to the starting position shown in Fig. 12. This position through are picked up by the ribbons I2 and con-- veyed between ribbons I2 and 23 to the downthe purpose of insuring operation of the device with the thinnest fabrics. Cell I04 is now gencrating which causes a fiow of current through wire I25, coil of relay I08, wire I26, ammeter I00, wire I21, rheostat H0 and wire I28. Flow of current in this direction through relay I 08 causes movement of contact finger I08a toward the right to engage contact point 3%. This is a dead contact and no actuation of mechanism occurs. The deflection of ammeter I09 at this time is toward the right.

As the article advances along the conveyor it finally intercepts the light to bothcells which re-establishes a balance between them and brings the contact finger back to the neutral position shown in Fig. 12. As the article advances further so that the light beam to cell I04 is interrupted but the light beam to cell I03 is uninterrupted, the latter cell now becomes the only one generating and currentfiows through wire I30, rheostat IIO, wire I2'I, ammeter I09, wire I25, coil of relay I08 and wires I25 and I29. Current now flows through the coil of relay I08 in a direction to deflect contact brm I08a toward the This establishes a circuit from the secondary side of transformer II3 to current rectifier Ill and thence through wire I3I, the coil of power relay I 32, wire I 33, relay I08' and wire I34 back to the rectifier and transformer. The primary of this transformer receives its supply from the secondary of transformer II2 through wires I35 and I36. Energizewires I40 and I36 back to the transformer II2. Energization of solenoid 59 raises the plunger 58 and trips the one-revolution clutch described in normal position beneath the conveyor. When" the article has been completely removed from the ribbons I2, the light beams again strike both of the light-sensitive cells and establish the condition of balance which breaks the circuit through contact arm I08a. of the polarized relay which in turn breaks the circuit through power relay I32 and deenergizes solenoid 59, thereupon the bellcrank 56 moves in a counterclockwise direction to engage the dog 48 as shown in Fig. 7 as soon as the clutch has completed one revolution. The light source I receives its current supply from the secondary of transformer II2 by way of wires I35, I4I, I42 and I36.

To insure'that the fabric article remains in the proper position upon the run 25' of the con: veyor ribbons I2, a roller I43 is supported by arms I44 in rolling contact with an article lying upon ribbons I2. The roller I43 is so positioned that the trailing edge of the article hamdled emerges from contact between the roller and the ribbons substantially at the same time as the stacking arms are set in operation to deposit the article on the stacking table. It results from this arrangement that the trailing edge of an article is always in definite relation to the stacking arms and each article is placed with its forward edge in alinement with the article next below it.

As the articles are stacked and the table 4-I is Y gradually lowered as previously described, the contact 98 finally engages button I00 which makes a circuit from the secondary of trans-- former IIZthrough wires I35, I31, I45, I46, lamp I I5 and wires I41 and I36 back to the transformer. This lights lamp II5 indicating to the operator that only a certain number'of articles (say about twenty) can be fed before the machine will shut itself down. Inasmuch as the average bundle of handkerchiefs contains about twelve articles, this is sufficient to finish the bundle 5 upon which she is working. If the table M is permitted to travel to its extreme lower position, contact 89 engages button IDI and opens the circuit through the holding coil I I60. Switch III; which is normally biased to open position both machines. 1

when table M has been loaded with a stack to the full capacity of the machine, the cover' 81 is opened to remove the stack of finished articles. 5 'l'hisppens button 9! rendering impossible the machine until the cover. is

0 will therefore open and automatically shut down operation of either again closed. v

Articles may thus bed red continuously through a the ironing machine as rapidly as the ironing ,60 machine operator can. handle them and it'will be understood that individual bundles may be marked for separation by any marking meanshich will lend itself to passage through the w ironer and the stackingmachine, such as a piece as of cloth of distinctive size, shape or color. What I claim is:

1. Control means .for a device for articles travelling in a path comprising lightsensitive members spaced progressively alongsaid path to one side thereof in first and second-q positions, light source means ior projecting light beams transversely of said path anduporrsaid members, means for actuating said deviceiin- 7 eluding a polarized relay and anelectrical contact adapted to be closed thereby, said members being connected in an electrical circuit with said relay with opposed polarities, and said members and relay and contact being so arranged that I said relay closes said contact only when the light beam to said second position member is interrupted by one of said articles and when the light beamto said first position member is uninterrupted.

2. In a device for-stacking fabric articles hav-' ing a ribbon conveyor on which said articles move and having stacking arms oscillatable from a normal position below said conveyor to lift an article from said conveyor and to place it in stacked position, actuating means for said arms including a polarized relay and an electrical contact adapted to be closed thereby, a pair of light-sensitive cells positioned to one side of said conveyor adjacent the free end of said arms, said cells being spaced apart in the direction of conveyor travel, light source means projecting light beams transversely of said conveyor and upon said cells, an electric circuit including said relay andsaid cells connected thereto with opposite polarities, and said contact being so arranged with respect to said relay that it is closed only when the light beam. to the second-encountered cell is interrupted by an article and when the light beam to the first-encountered cell is uninterrupted, where-' by said stacking arms act upon an article as soon as its trailing edge clears the first-encountered light beam. 3. Control means as in claim 1 including in said electrical circuit a rheostat slightly opposing the polarity of said second'position member. 4. Control means for a device for performing an operation upon each of a series of separate articles travelling along a path, comprising two light-sensitive members and means associated therewith for throwing two-beams of light transve'rsely of said path, one beam aiiecting each of said members, said beams being intercepted progressively by an article'moving along said path.

said'members being connected in an electrical circuit in a manner to balance the current gen-- saidmember associated with said second-enencountered beam over the current generated by 

